Southport Pier Struck by Lorry Just Days After Fire

Image by Eye On Southport

Southport’s iconic pier has suffered another setback today (Friday 5th September), just five days after a fire damaged part of the historic structure.

At around 10.25am this morning, Merseyside Police were called to reports of a collision involving a HGV on Marine Drive. Witnesses say the lorry attempted to drive under the pier when the top of the vehicle hit the underside of the structure. The truck, belonging to SSO Logistics – a transport company based in Haydock and St Helens – was later seen parked close to the Ocean Plaza car park with visible damage.

Image by Eye On Southport

Officers quickly attended the scene and confirmed that, fortunately, there was no damage to the pier itself and no road closures were required. A police spokesperson said: “We received a call at 10.25am today that a truck had been in collision with the pier/bridge on Marine Drive. There was no damage to the bridge/pier. Damage to the truck is being dealt with by the owners.”

This latest incident comes on the back of a fire that broke out on the pier late on Sunday night, 31st August. At 11.48pm, Merseyside Fire and Rescue were alerted to flames beneath The Smoothie Stop café. Fire crews arrived within minutes, with three engines on scene by 11.54pm.

The blaze spread across an area around 20 metres long and 5 metres wide on and beneath the pier before firefighters brought it under control. By 12.50am the main fire was extinguished, with crews damping down and monitoring for hot spots. The scene was declared safe just after 2am.

Image by Thomas Lee Bleakley

The fire is not being treated as suspicious and is believed to have been caused by an electrical fault. A Sefton Council spokesperson said: “We would like to thank the swift actions of both our onsite security teams and Merseyside Fire and Rescue in dealing with a small fire on Southport Pier last night. The fire was quickly extinguished and at this early stage we do not believe it to have caused any significant damage to the structure.”

The twin setbacks come at a critical time for the Grade II listed pier, which has been a centrepiece of Southport’s coastline for 165 years and is the oldest iron pier in the country. The pier was temporarily closed in 2022 on safety grounds following a structural engineers’ report after a spell of severe weather.

Repairs have been estimated at around £13 million, with the closure having a major impact on the town’s leisure and tourism economy. Many local businesses and residents have campaigned for urgent restoration.

In July, Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson confirmed that repair works could start “within six to eight weeks” of government funding being confirmed. That support appeared to move closer in July when Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the government’s intention to back the reopening of Southport Pier.

For many, the recent fire and today’s collision highlight the challenges facing the iconic landmark, but also underline the importance of securing its long-term future.

📸 Images: Thomas Lee Bleakley / Eye On Southport